Infant&#39;s shirt



E. A. SIMICKER May 3, 1949.

INFANT s SHIRT 2 Sheets-Sheet ,1

Filed May 20, 1947 lNVENi'OR.

51/444 4. SIM/5km ATTORNEY -May 3, 1949. E. AQSMICKER INFANTS SHIRT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 20, 1 947 514m ,4. 5mm

- BY I ATTORN EY.

INVENTOR.

Patented May 3, 1949 UNITED STATES l ATENT OFFICE Emma, A. Smicker, Allentown;

Blossom Products Corporation,

Pa., assignor to Allentown, a.,

a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 20, 1947; Serial No. 749,193

, '1 Claims. 1

This invention relates to infants garments, more particularly to babies knitted undershirts. The most common type of infant's shirt is the slip-over, but it is known that when this type of garment is pulled over an infant's head, certain difficulties are encountered. Because of the inability of the child to cooperate, the arms are generally in the way, and frequently become tangled within the neck opening, thereby not only interfering with the operation of slipping on the sh rt, but also subjecting theinfant to discomfortand 'ain. And even when the arms are not in the way, it is a common occurrence that the open neck portion will become caught at the region of the chin, with the danger of bruising or rubbing off theinfants skin in that region. It is accordingly primarily within the contemplation of my invention to provide a garment where the above-mentioned shortcomings and dangers are eliminated. More specifically, it is an object of my invention to provide an infants shirt so constructed as to permit the infant to be inserted feet first through the opening, whereby all contact with the head and obstructing arms are enfrmnated. I g

It is also within the contemplation of this invention to enable the shirt to be slipped over the head of the child in conventional manner if desired, without the dangers above-mentioned. This objective is accomplished by a construction which provides an enlarged opening at the upper "portion of the shirt, and an arrangement where a spreading action of the upper portion is permitted. It is a further object of my invention to provide a shirt of the above mentioned category having flaps which are easily opened and closed, and which may be readily tied together to form a secure and warm protection for the child.

A further object of my invention is to provide an inf ants shirt so constructed as to relieve pressure at the, seams whichis frequently produced in conventional garments due to the turning, twisting or over-activity of the child. This objective isaccomplished. in apreferred form of my invention by providing an arrangement of overlapping flaps whereby there will be av relative movement between the flaps, rather than a pull at the seams, during such activity of the;- child.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a garment of the above category capable of'r'ea'dy adjustment to diiferent sizes, or for either snug or loose fits.

And it is within the contemplation of my invention to enablethe above-mentioned objectives to be attained by means of a simple and readily fabricated construction.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the drawings and the description hereinafter given.

Refer-ring to the drawings,

Figuge 1 is a front view of the preferred form of infants shirt according to my invention, with the flaps closed; n

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front view of the device of Figure 1 with the flaps partially open; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the garment of Figure 1, showing the construction of the front, side and sleeves;

Figure 4 is a side view ofjfiigure 3;

Figure 5 is a top View of Figure 3; v

Figure 6 is also a top view of Figure 3, but with the flaps in their open position;

v Figure 7 is a fragmentary side view substantially like Figure 4, but with portions broken away for clarity, and also showing theside and front flaps in two different relative positions; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view, substantially like that of Figure 3, but showing the relative positions of the front and one side flap under the influence of a pull on the garment.

In the preferred form of my invention illustrated, the shirt contains a front portion I0, a rear portion ll, sleeves I3 and l4-the rear portion extending from the lower edge 15 upward-1y to the shoulder levels I6 and I1, and being attached to the downwardly and inwardly extending side flaps l8 and 1 9 by the seaming at l6 and ii. The upper part of front portion In consists of a front flap 20 extending across the entire front of the garment between side seams 2| and 22. The sleeves are attached to the side flaps and rear portion of the garment by front seams 23 and 2d, and by re'ar seams Z5 and 26. There are also bottom sleeve seams 2 1 and 28 which join seams 23 and 25 at juncture 29, and seams 24 and 26 at juncture -3ll-said. junctures Hand 30 being substantially in the region of the armpits. The arrangement is hence-such that the garment contains a lower tubular body portion l2, and an upper front closure formed by three separable flaps.

Side flaps l8 andlS contain convexly curved inner edgesSl and 32, these edges extending from the neck portion downwardly and outwardly to theside seams 2i and 22 respectively, the junctures with said side seams being 33 and 34 respectively. The upper portions 35 and 36 of the edges 3| and 32, in: the-regionof the neck portion, are in adjacentrelation when: the flaps are in their closed positions, as clearly indicated in Figure 1. The front flap 20 has its upper edge 31 convexly curved, the uppermost portion 3 8 thereof being adjacent said portions 35 and 36 of the side flaps, when the flaps are in their closed positions, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3. It will also be observed that when the flaps are in their closed positions the front flap 20 overlaps the lower portions of the side flaps, thereby providing a twolayer or double thickness arrangement in the regions A and B at the chest portion of the garment (Figure 1).

In the preferred form of my invention, the front is provided with an elastic loop 39, and the side flaps are provided with strings or tapes 40 and 4 I. The arrangement is such that when the flaps are in their closed position, the said tapes can be drawn through the loop and tied in a bow, whereby the flaps are in this manner conveniently secured together.

In the preferred form of dressing 2. child with this shirt, the flaps are opened, substantially in the manner indicated in Figures 2 and 6, whereby the feet of the infant may be inserted through the enlarged upper opening into and through the lower body portion of the garment. Inasmuch as the flaps are open, as aforesaid, there is obviously no obstruction to the insertion of the child, there being no danger of constriction or interference by any engagement of the neck portion with the arms or chin of the infant. The childs arms may be widely extended, yet he may readily be inserted without the diiiiculties that are generally encountered in slip-overgarments. Even if it is desired to slip the garment over the head of the infant, there is generally ample room in the lower body portion of the garment to accommodate both the head and arms, since such body portion is always much wider than the neck opening. In either event, the open flaps l8, l9 and 2!) permit complete freedom of movement of arms and head, without any constricting effects during the donning of the shirt.

After the infant is disposed within the shirt, the flaps I8, i9 and 20 can be closed, side flaps l8 and I9 constituting the inner portion and front flap 20 the outer portion. Thereafter the three portions can be secured together as aforesaid.

It will be noted that due to the overlapping arrangement in the chest portions A and B, there is not only provided a firm and secure holding of the inner flaps in place by the outer flap, but there is also provided a double layer region for warmth in a place where warmth is required.

The overlapping flaps also permit an adjustment of the garment for different sizes, or to permit both loose and snug fits. For example, by referring to Figure 7, it will be seen that the dot-dash lines represent an expanded condition, or a size larger than the full line representations of the flaps. In such expanded or enlarged condition, the strings or other securing means can be secured together in conventional manner.

Figure 8 represents a condition where a pull is applied to the garment, such as a downward pull upon the front portion. In conventional slip-over garments, such a pull would create a stress at the side seams, such as at the juncture 29. And inasmuch as seams are normally 4 with the overlapping arrangement of my invention, there is relative movement between the two adjacent flaps, such as in the region 42 of Figure 8. The elasticity of the loop 39 obviously aids in the elimination or reduction of any pull or stress at the seams.

In the above description, the invention has been disclosed merely by way of example and in preferred manner; but obviously many variations and modifications may be made therein which will still be comprised within its spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or manner not stretchable, the result is an uncomfortable restraining action upon the wearer. However,

of practicing same, except in so far as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An infants shirt comprising a front portion, a rear portion attached to the front portion with side seams and extending up to the shoulder level of the shirt, two side flaps extending downwardly from said shoulder level and inwardly from said side seams, a front flap merged with said front portion at the upper part thereof, and sleeves attached to said rear portion and side flaps; said front flap having an upper convexly curved edge extending across the front of the garment and attached and hinged at said side seams; said side flaps being adapted to be brought into a predetermined closed position with their inner edges in opposed relation and forming a neck opening, the said inner edges containing opposed convexly curved edges extending from said neck opening downwardly and outwardly to said side seams and attached thereat, the said inner edges of the side flaps in the region of the neck'opening being in adjacent relation when the flaps are in their closed position; the said front flap being adapted to be brought into a closed position in overlying relation to predetermined lower portions of the side flaps, the uppermost central edge portion of the front flap being adjacent said adjacent portions of the inner flaps when closed; an elastic loop attached to the front flap at the upper central portion thereof and coacting tie-strings at the innermost edges of the side flaps, said tie-strings being engageable with each other and with the elastic loop for securing together the said flaps, when in their closed positions.

2. In an infants shirt, a rear portion, and secured thereto two side flaps and a front flap adapted to be brought into adjacent relation to form a closed front portion, fastening means being provided which inter-engages said side and front flaps to hold them in closed position, said flaps being separable, when disengaged by said fastening means, to open said front portion.

3. In an infants shirt, a lower tubular body portion, a rear portion, two side flaps above said tubular portion and adapted to be brought into adjacent relation in a predetermined closed position in front of said rear portion, a front flap overlying portions of said side fiaps, said three flaps forming separable upper front closure members, and a pair of fastening members provided on the two side flaps, said fastening, members being inter-engageable with each other and with the front flap to hold the side flaps in closed position.

4. In an infants shirt, a lower tubular body portion, a rear portion, two side flaps above said tubular portion and adapted to be brought into adjacent relation in a predetermined closed position in front of said rear portion, a front flap overlying portions of said side flaps, said three flaps forming separable upper front closure members, said side flaps having their inner edges in opposed relation and containing convexly curved portions extending downwardly and outwardly to the sides of the shirt, the said front flap having an upper convexly curved edge extending across the front of the shirt, and coacting fastening members provided on the side flaps, said fastening members being engageable with each other and with the front flap to hold the front flap in overlying position relative to the side flaps.

5. In an infants shirt, a lower tubular body portion, a rear portion, two side flaps above said tubular portion and adapted to be brought into adjacent relation in a predetermined closed position in front of said rear portion to form a neck opening, a front flap overlying portions Of said side flaps, said three flaps forming separable upper front closure members, said side flaps having their inner edges in opposed relation and containing lconvexly curved portions extending downwardly from the neck opening and outwardly to the sides of the shirt, the said front flap having an upper convexly curved edge extending across the front of the shirt, and securing means attached to adjacent portions of the said flaps when in their closed position, said securing means comprising a pair of coacting tie-strings attached to the side flaps and an elastic loop attached to the front flap, said tie-strings being engageable with each other through the loop, whereby the three flaps are held in closed position.

6. In an infants shirt, a lower tubular body portion formed from a front portion and a rear portion seamed together with side seams, the rear portion extending upwardly substantially to the shoulder level of the shirt, two side flaps extending downwardly from said shoulder level and inwardly from said side seams, a front flap at the upper part of said front portion, and sleeves attached to said rear portion and side flaps; said front flap having an upper convexly curved edge extending across the front of the garment and attached and hinged at said side seams; said side flaps being adapted to be brought into a predetermined closed position with their inner edges in opposed relation and forming a neck opening, the said inner edges containing opposed convexly curved edges extending from said neck opening downwardly and outwardly to said side seams and attached thereat; the said front flap being adapted to be brought into overlying relation to predetermined lower portions of the side flaps, said side flaps having a pair of tie-strings attached thereto, said tie-strings being engageable with each other and with the loop to hold the three flaps in closed position.

'7. In a garment of the character described, a pair of side flaps which swing forwardly and inwardly toward each other into closed position, the leading edges of said side flaps being convex in shape and being in proximate spaced relation to each other when the flaps are in closed position, a front flap which swings upwardly and backwardly into closed position in overlying relation with respect to the two side flaps, the leading edge of said front flap being also convex in shape and intersecting the leading edges of the two side flaps in the region of their closest proximity, a pair of tie-strings fastened to the leading edges of said side flaps at the points of intersection with the leading edge of the front flap and a loop formed on the leading edge of the front flap at said intersecting points, said tiestrings being engageable with each other and with the loop to hold the three flaps in closed position.

EMMA A. SMICKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 21,434 Great Britain Sept. 20, 1912 488,226 Great Britain July 4, 1938 

